Rhodochrosite, Stilbite with Pyrite and Quartz

$4,000.00

$40.00 shipping
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Tucson, Arizona, USA

7,543 for sale·132 sold

The Madan Ore Field in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria is a prolific producer of amazing specimens, Galena being probably its most famous species. Rhodochrosite is certainly right up there in the famous stakes and this is a stupendous example forms vertically standing, 10 cm columns of candyfloss pink crystallised Rhodochrosite. These are encrusted with creamy beige Stilbite, colourless and milky Quartz crystals and golden to brassy Chalcopyrite crystals. I have had the pleasure of touring the Madan mining district on three occasions, buying fine specimens from mine shops, miners and local dealers, but have never come across a specimen as good as this. The Rhodochrosite would appear to cover underlying crystals to form the columns, but just what is forming this distinct structure, I am uncertain. I wonder if they are pseudomorphs, but this is all exciting territory for whoever acquires it to investigate further. The coating of Stilbite crystals is essentially from a preferential direction, completely covering and obscuring the Rhodochrosite on the reverse side. It really is a magnificent cabinet specimen.